Donna Downey's and Stephen Lursen's Collaboration Art Workshop #3

In May of 2015, Donna Downey and I taught a workshop at Donna Downey Studios in Huntersville, NC. The paintings were broken down into 2 main segments. First, Donna taught how to create a beautifully colorful background with layers of texture and imagery. Once she had completed her part I took over and taught how to draw a figure using the grid method and then proceeded to teach how to paint in with flesh tones and hair, etc. The end paintings that were produced were all spectacular and uniquely their own!

I'd like to show you the process I used to teach them all how to add the figure to their canvas. 

This is the only image I have that almost shows 100% of Donna's work. I wish I took a photo before I began drawing the figure on the canvas. But from here, you get a pretty good idea of what a beautiful painting I had to work with!

Here is the final version of the painting. It will be for sale soon at www.donnadowney.com along with the other finished collaborative paintings from our workshops. Thank you so much for following my blog!

I will be teaching a new large scale painting workshop at Donna Downey Studios from April 8th - 10th!  Please click the link to find out more! Space is limited to 10, so seats won't last!

Finished painting: Expecting Glory

I am very proud to present my newest large scale painting "Expecting Glory"!

I hope you had the chance to read my last post explaining the back story to my newest finished painting. If not, please read here.

So without any further a du, I present to you Expecting Glory.
(I have officially copyrighted this work via copyright.gov)

Expecting Glory
by Stephen Lursen
Acrylic on 2 panels
7' tall x 6' wide

Original painting can be purchased online @:
https://howtopaint.myshopify.com/products/expecting-glory-original-painting-by-stephen-lursen

High Resolution PDF versions for personal use can be purchased at:
https://howtopaint.myshopify.com/products/expecting-glory-downloadable-pdf

Detail shots of Expecting Glory:

Here is the main character in the painting. He is small in scale, but he is the source of the energy that rises up from within him. The circles represent ideas and thoughts. The higher the circles are, the longer they have been thought about. After much contemplation, some ideas burst and are gone, and others manifest and grow. 

These shooting stars represent the moments in life that are so fleeting. If you don't live in the moment, then they are gone. These specific shooting stars are those fleeting moments remembered from the past. I say the past because the left half of the painting, night time, represents the past, as the sunrise represents the future, and the center of the painting were the figure is seated, represents the now.

These stars surrounded by darkness represent the few most important people in one's life. In dark times it is important to have the love and support of family and friends.

Expecting Glory progress photos

Expecting Glory took me a total of 3 and a half years to complete. I started the painting on two panels in January of 2012 and finished the painting only a couple months ago in 2015. Clearly I'm behind on my blog posts! Hahaha But I'm working on that now to catch up!

This black and white version is how it rested from May of 2012 when I graduated from Winthrop University with my M.F.A. in painting. My thesis work was all in black and white with some of the substrate showing through. In this case, the wood grain from the panels show through the paint. My wife and I moved into our first home in April of this year (2015) and soon there after I installed shelves in one of the bed rooms which has become my art studio.

To see the finished work complete with detail shots visit the page title: "Finished painting: Expecting Glory"

For more information on purchasing this painting, click here.

Creative self portrait by Shane Sminky

I teach a young friend of mine named Shane at Donna Downey Studios. I have taught Shane for over 2 years now and I have always been impressed with his skills and focus being far beyond his years. Here is a photo collage of one of his recent paintings he accomplished in a 2 hour class with me at the studio. We started with a photograph of him and his hand made clay Star Wars Angry Birds characters. He builds hundreds of figures with his clay, each having the expression suiting his or her character. From there we proceeded step by step and layer by layer until he finished his self portrait filled with bright colors and textures.

Girl's Birthday party at Donna Downey Studios

We host birthday parties at Donna Downey Studios all the time. I recently instructed a party of  creative teenage girls. The birthday girl had a passion for painting and many of the others humored her at the start. The amazing thing happened only moments after beginning, the room went quiet - keep in mind this is a party - and everyone without exception became extremely focused on her work! They all loved it and would ask questions on how to achieve a painterly effect. I walked them through the process step by step and after a couple hours, our time was up. I was very pleased with the results!

I started them out with a few Donna Downey Studios Cling stamp options. Using the stamp of their choice (Off in the distance, Windows to the soul, or What do you see) and a large ink pad, they made their mark on the canvas and the process had begun. Soon there after I demonstrated how to draw hair and shoulders. Then the painting began and I was demonstrating simple flesh tones. I am very proud of the group's positivity and focus!

If you have any interest in parties or classes at Donna Downey Studios, feel free to email me at Stephenlursen@gmail.com 

You can customize your party's art heme to whatever your interested in!

Recent student cat portraits

Over the last month, I've taught two private students how to paint their cats. Each painting turned out very well! I wanted to share them with you.

Starry Eyed Workshop - Student Work

I taught my newest painting "Starry Eyed" at Donna Downey Studios last Saturday. A couple friends of mine Flo and Melody were celebrating Melody's birthday and they brought some friends and family. We all had a wonderful time and I want to show off their paintings. We had 3 hours and I think they each did a beautiful job on their 16"x20" canvases.

Flo's painting

Melody's Painting

I teach this workshop in the studio and as an online workshop. If you are interested in painting this project, please check out the link at: http://www.donnadowney.com/products/starry-eyed-online-workshop